Countdown to Round 1, 2026. Day 54: Essendon Guernsey Number 54

With 54 days to go until Essendon’s Round 1 clash against Hawthorn, Don The Stat continues its daily countdown through the club’s guernsey history.

Guernsey Number 54 has been worn by just two Essendon players at senior level, across two very different periods in the club’s history.

The first Bomber to wear the number was Tom Park, who debuted in 1974 and played three senior games wearing Number 54 during that season.

More than 40 years later, the jumper resurfaced in 2016, when Sam Grimley wore Number 54 for four senior games. That season came under unique circumstances for Essendon, with the club relying on top-up players to field a side, leading to a number of higher guernsey numbers appearing briefly.

With four games, Grimley is the longest-serving wearer of Number 54, edging ahead of Park’s three appearances.

While its use has been limited, Guernsey Number 54 remains part of Essendon’s official playing history — a small sample size, but one that connects two distant eras of the club.

As the countdown continues, Don The Stat will move through every guernsey number worn by an Essendon player, one day at a time.

Next up: Day 53 and Jumper Number 53.